No Champagne Stakes for Frolic

Hong Kong bound trainer Michael Freedman has sent Frolic to the paddock and the Golden Slipper runner up will miss running in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Frolic, above, is a non runner in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Frolic, above, is a non runner in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Frolic proved to be among the top two year olds racing during the 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival and after winning the Group 2 $300,000 Affinity Shopping Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on March 4 went on to run second to She Will Reign in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill a fortnight later.

Ladbrokes.com.au had Frolic as the $4 second favourite for the Champagne Stakes before Freedman posted on twitter that she would be heading for spell.

“With Frolic heading for a well-deserved spell I will now sign off from Oz racing this Thursday. Sad but excited for what the future holds!!” Freedman said on Twitter.

Freedman’s final runner in Australia will be Show ‘Em at Hawkesbury on Thursday before he takes up his position in Hong Kong in September for the beginning of the new racing season.

“To be given a chance to train in Hong Kong is such an amazing opportunity,’’ Freedman told The Daily Telegraph.

“I’m mindful I have only been back in Sydney a year and was just starting to get things going but you have to make calls in life you feel are the right ones.

“I weighed everything up and felt if I didn’t take this chance then I would live to regret it.’’

The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Invader is now assured of starting a very short priced favourite for the Champagne Stakes after scoring a decisive win in the Group 1 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) at Randwick on April 1.

The James Cummings trained Whispered Secret will be promoted to the second pick in the market order and will be chasing a hat trick of wins following her Maiden victory at Newcastle on March 25 followed by a win in the Listed $150,000 Adina Apartment Hotels Fernhill Handicap (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.